A system for monitoring the radiation effects of a proton linear accelerator
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PARTICLE ACCELERATORS FOR NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGIES
A System for Monitoring the Radiation Effects of a Proton Linear Accelerator V. M. Skorkin*, K. L. Belyanski, and A. V. Skorkin Institute for Nuclear Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, pr. 60-letiya Oktyabrya 7a, Moscow, 117312 Russia *e-mail: [email protected] Received July 2, 2015
Abstract—The system for real-time monitoring of radioactivity of a high-current proton linear accelerator detects secondary neutron emission from proton beam losses in transport channels and measures the activity of radionuclides in gas and aerosol emissions and the radiation background in the environment affected by a linear accelerator. The data provided by gamma, beta, and neutron detectors are transferred over a computer network to the central server. The system allows one to monitor proton beam losses, the activity of gas and aerosol emissions, and the radiation emission level of a linear accelerator in operation. Keywords: radiation monitoring, radionuclide, neutron, linear accelerator, proton beam, radioactive emissions DOI: 10.1134/S106377881609012X
losses. At intermediate proton beam energies, fast neutrons with a nearly isotropic distribution are the primary component of secondary emission [3]. Figure 1 shows the calculated spectrum of evaporation neutrons from the interaction of a proton beam with a tungsten target at an energy of 300 MeV [4]. Fast-neutron detectors UDBN-02R are used to monitor the secondary neutron emission from proton beam losses [5, 6]. The detectors are installed in the channels of proton beam transport to experimental assemblies and near the targets. The data from these detectors are fed to a terminal controller, converted, and transmitted to a local computer that processes them and supplies the information on the neutron background to a local computer network administered by a central server.
2. SECONDARY NEUTRON EMISSION MONITORING Multicomponent emission, which forms radiation background, is produced as a result of proton beam 1410
Neutrons per single proton
1. INTRODUCTION A high-intensity proton beam in a linear accelerator produces secondary neutron and gamma emission as a result of losses in the process of transport to targets. The interaction of protons of the beam and secondary neutrons with targets, structural materials, water, and air activates the equipment and produces radionuclides up to 41Ar [1]. The basic interaction processes are inelastic interaction of fast nucleons (p, pn) and (n, 2n) in various components of the experimental equipment and radiation capture of slow neutrons in water and air. The produced radionuclides enter the ventilation system of the accelerator and are then vented into the atmosphere as a radioactive gas and aerosol mixture that poses a radiation hazard to the personnel and the general public. The primary public safety concerns in the region of technological impact of a linear accelerator are the gamma and beta radioactivity of short-lived radionuclides in gas and aerosol emissions and the probable neutron emissi
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